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Bayer Shuffles Coatings, PU Leaders; Dow Performance Names Marketing Chief

Monday, July 11, 2011

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Bayer MaterialScience has revamped its senior executive lineup to strengthen its “focus on marketing and innovation,” while Dow has made a key change in its Performance Chemicals leadership.

Focus on Innovation

Bayer MaterialScience has appointed Peter Vanacker to the Executive Committee position of Head of Industrial Marketing and Innovation. Vanacker had headed the company’s Polyurethanes Business Unit.

Vanacker will be responsible for driving industrial marketing and innovation as key elements of the Bayer MaterialScience growth strategy. He will also lead the company’s development business activities in Functional Films, Carbon Nanotubes and other fields.

Peter Vanacker (left) becomes head of Industrial Marketing and Innovation at Bayer MaterialScience, putting Joachim Wolff (right) at the helm of Polyurethanes.

“I cannot stress enough how important industrial marketing is to our future growth,” said Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience. “The markets in which we operate are changing faster today than at any time in the past, and we must ensure we develop a strong feeling for market trends through our activities in this field.”

Polyurethanes, Coatings Changes

Dr. Joachim Wolff succeeds Vanacker as Head of the Polyurethanes Business Unit, while Daniel Meyer joins the Executive Committee and succeeds Wolff as Head of the Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties (CAS) Business Unit.

Meyer previously headed Marketing and Business Development within the CAS unit in Asia Pacific.

Daniel Meyer now leads the Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties (CAS) Business Unit.

The company has also expanded its Executive Committee to incorporate additional key functional activities. Michael Bernhardt, Wolfgang Miebach and Richard Northcote have joined the Executive Committee as heads of Human Resources, Corporate Development and Communications and Public Affairs, respectively.

“Each of these individuals brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Executive Committee,” said Thomas. “Their contribution to the leadership of the company will be invaluable as we continue on a strategy of growth and market extension.”

With 2010 sales of €10.2 billion (about $14.3 billion US), Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies, serving the construction, automotive, electrical and other markets.

Dow Performance Materials Names Director

Dow Performance Materials has named Carlos Silva Lopes as Strategic Marketing Director for the business, which includes ANGUS Chemical Co. and Acima Specialty Chemicals. In this role, Silva Lopes will lead all global marketing activities for a number of diverse markets.

Carlos Silva Lopes is Strategic Marketing Director for Dow Performance Chemicals.

Angus produces provides a range of specialty chemicals that serve as pigment dispersants for clay, titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate pigment.  Acima is a Swiss-based manufacturer providing a full range of tin catalysts to producers of polymers including polyurethanes, polysilicones, polyesters and polyolefins.